Head of Regions at National Empowerment Fund

Job description

Strategic Leadership of Regional Operations

• Provide strategic leadership to all Regional Offices.

Develop and implement regional investment strategies aligned to:

• NEF Strategic Plan
• Annual Performance Plan (APP)
• Organisational KPIs
• Shareholder priorities
• Government industrial policy transformation objectives
• Drive consistent implementation of investment strategy across all Regional Offices
• Develop regional performance improvement initiatives
• Lead organisational change across Regional Offices. 

Regional Investment Growth

• Drive sustainable investment growth across all provinces
• Ensure sufficient and quality deal flow to meet annual investment targets.
• Monitor pipeline conversion rates and timelines.
• Identify underperforming regions and implement corrective interventions.
• Develop regional business development strategies.
• Ensure equitable distribution of investments nationally.
• Promote investment in rural areas, townships, secondary cities and economically underdeveloped districts.

Business Development

• Provide leadership on regional business development.
• Develop strategic partnerships with Provincial Governments, Municipalities, DFIs, Industry Associations, Business Chambers, Incubators and Enterprise Development programmes
• Promote NEF products nationally.
• Identify emerging investment opportunities.
• Develop regional sector strategies.

Technical Investment Support

• Provide technical guidance to Regional Managers throughout the investment process
• Support deal origination, deal structuring, funding solutions, financial modelling, transaction packaging, pricing as well as risk identification and mitigation
• Provide technical oversight on transactions and assist on complex transactions.
• Support early review committees.
• Mentor Regional Investment Associates and Analysts.

Quality Assurance

• Ensure investment reports submitted by Regional Offices meet NEF standards.
• Review commercial analysis, developmental impact, financial assumptions and financial implications as well as funding structures and investment recommendations.
• Improve investment quality and turnaround times.
• Reduce rework by Funds.
• Ensure consistency of investment recommendations nationally.

Regional Pipeline Management

• Monitor pipeline health nationally.
• Review pipeline ageing, conversion ratios, approval rates, decline trends and turnaround times.
• Implement interventions where required.
• Ensure regional targets are achieved.

Developmental Impact

• Ensure investments maximise the employment creation, black ownership, women ownership, youth ownership, people living with disabilities, rural development, township economy, localisation and industrialisation.
• Promote investments that deliver measurable socio-economic impact.
• Ensure alignment with national transformation priorities. 

Stakeholder Management

• Maintain relationships with Provincial MECs, Municipalities, Development Agencies, Provincial Economic
  Departments, Business Organisations and Industry Associations.
• Represent NEF nationally.
• Resolve regional escalations. 

Performance Management

• Manage Regional Managers
• Monitor performance and drive accountability.
• Develop regional capability.
• Support succession planning.
• Ensure alignment of regional KPIs with organisational objectives. 

Investment Process Improvement

• Drive implementation of Standard Operating Procedures, investment governance, technology adoption, AI-enabled screening, CRM improvements and pipeline management systems.
• Ensure standardised investment practices nationally. 

Governance and Risk

• Ensure regional compliance with Investment Policies, Delegation of Authority, Risk and Governance framework, compliance requirements, monitor audit findings and implement corrective actions.

Minimum requirements

Experience / Skills Required

• Minimum 10 years investment experience with at least 5 years in senior management;
• In depth working experience in Development Finance, Corporate Finance, Private Equity, Investment Banking, Commercial Banking and Project Finance fields;
• Extensive experience in transaction structuring, investment committee presentations, financial modelling, business development, portfolio management, regional management, stakeholder engagement and leadership;
• Solid expertise managing geographically dispersed teams.

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Management, Engineering, Commerce Investment Management or related field.
• Postgraduate qualification (e.g., MBA, CA(SA), CFA, Master’s) is advantageous.

Personal Attributes/Behaviours/Attitudes

Technical Competencies

• Investment Structuring
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Modelling
• Commercial Analysis
• Risk Assessment
• Development Finance
• Portfolio Management
• Business Development
• Stakeholder Management
• Negotiation
• Performance Management
• Project Management